Diversity is now the new “buzzword” throughout Corporate America. Organizations are implementing diversity initiatives in response to consumer demands, as part of corporate diversity goals, or as proactive measures to strengthen their workforces. But wanting to implement a workplace diversity initiative and actually doing it are two different things.

For example, are there any restrictions on creating an employee affinity group? Could celebrating, for example, Black History Month alienate non-minority employees? What would be the ramifications for employee morale if the employer chose not to celebrate Black History Month? Is there any way to hold a forum to address the tension between two groups of diverse employees without further exacerbating the problem? And who is best suited to facilitate this discussion in order to avoid disharmony in the workplace, or possible legal issues? How can you recruit underrepresented populations without opening yourself to liability for reverse discrimination? How do you create a workplace diversity initiative that reaches the majority of your workforce without diluting the message?

Constangy, Brooks & Smith, LLP, is a top provider of legal services to employers, and has established a Workplace Diversity Initiatives Practice Group to provide both legal and practical guidance to employers on these and other workplace diversity issues.

The Workplace Diversity Initiative Practice Group provides practical advice to employers in all industries on the full range of diversity issues, and has developed innovative ways for employers to relay the message -- including training and other workplace programs, speakers, discussion forums, and recruitment efforts. These services are customized to meet the unique needs of your workplace and the issues most common to your industry, whether it is administrative, health care, transportation, manufacturing, retail, government, or academia.

Services provided by the Workplace Diversity Initiatives Group include the following: